Railway car coupler

ABSTRACT

An automatic hook type railway car coupler having a spring biased coupling hook mounted in its head for horizontal pivotal movement and adapted for interlocking engagement with the hook of an opposed similar coupler when the couplers are in a coupled position, and inboard projections and pocket portions disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal central axis of the coupler adapted to mate with complementary means on the opposed similar coupler for interlocking the couplers both vertically and horizontally when they are in a coupled position, More particularly, the coupling hook and inboard projections each have a forwardly extending tapered portion defining first nd second lateral alignment means, respectively, adapted to provide a more compact arrangement of guiding surfaces for improving the lateral gathering characteristics of two opposed misaligned couplers approaching each other during a coupling operation.

United States Patent Metzger [54] RAILWAY CAR COUPLER [72] Inventor: William J. Metzger, East Cleveland, Ohio [73] Assignee: Midland-Ross Corporation, Cleveland,

2,963,174 12/1960 Metzger ..2l3/1OOW Primary ExaminerDrayton E. Hoffman A!t0rneyHenry Kozak and Woodrow W. Portz [15] 3,655,066 51 Apr.ll, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT An automatic hook type railway car coupler having a spring biased coupling hook mounted in its head for horizontal pivotal movement and adapted for interlocking engagement with the hook of an opposed similar coupler when the couplers are in a coupled position, and inboard projections and pocket portions disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal central axis of the coupler adapted to mate with complementary means on the opposed similar coupler for interlocking the couplers'both vertically and horizontally when they are in a coupled position, More particularly, the coupling hook and inboard projections each have a forwardly extending tapered portion defining first nd second lateral alignment means, respectively, adapted to provide a more compact arrangement of guiding surfaces for improving the lateral gathering characteristics of two opposed misaligned couplers approaching each other during a coupling operation.

15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 11 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 3 a E a a L T C454 FIG.1

, INVENTOR. MIL/#MJMIHM PATENTEDAPR 11 I972 SHEET 2 UF 3 FIG/l v 7 INVENTOR. mzuaumnzam PATENTEDAPR 11 m2 SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOQR.

WIHMMJMIZfiR RArLwAY CAR COUPLER BACKGROUND OF THE INVEN'ITON Automatic hook type couplers having inboard tapered guide pins and sockets adapted for interlocking two opposed coupled couplers both vertically and horizontally are supposedly adapted also to interfrt during the coupling operation so long as the tip of each coupling hook enters the mouth of the opposed coupler. However, it has been found that the horizontal gathering range in one lateral direction of two opposed misaligned couplers of the above-mentioned type is generally limited to one-half the diameter of the tapered guide pin when the couplers are laterally displaced in the opposite direction from each other toward their hook side sufficiently to effect a nonhook-to-nonhook engagement of the couplers. That is, the couplers are not adapted to couple when the tip of each coupling hook slideably engages the inner peripheral wall on the socket side of the mouth of the opposed coupler. As a result, a miscoupling takes place. The reason for the miscoupling is that each side wall on the socket side of the coupler head is wedged between the guide pin and hook of the opposed coupler after each hook enters the mouth of the opposed coupler during the coupling operation. The present invention overcomes this extreme disadvantage and increases the gathering range in the horizontal direction to approximately 6 inches on each side of the couplers longitudinal central axis. 7

The main object of the invention is to provide means on an automatic hook type coupler which will increase the horizontal gathering range of the coupler.

A further object is to provide means on an automatic hook type coupler which will sufficiently align two opposing approaching similar couplers that are laterally offset from each other to permit the buffing face on one coupler to engage the buffing face on the opposed coupler so that coupling of the opposed hooks will result.

Another object is to provide means on an automatic hook type coupler which will prevent miscoupling of two opposed approaching similar couplers that are horizontally misaligned.

Yet another object is to provide first lateral alignment means on an automatic hook type coupler which will preliminarily align two opposed approaching similar couplers that are laterally misaligned and second lateral alignment means which will effect final alignment of the opposed couplers during the coupling operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, with respect to which the invention is described below:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an automatic hook type railway car coupler illustrating the novel construction of the inboard projections and recessed pocket portions and the forward extremity of the coupling hook;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the coupler illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the coupler illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the maximum gathering range of two opposed approaching couplers laterally displaced in the opposite direction from each other and toward their respective hook side to effect a nonhook-to-nonhook engagement of the couplers;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing movement of the couplers from the position of FIG. 4, with the inboard projections on each coupler having commenced to enter the recessed pocket portions of the opposing coupler;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing further gathering of the couplers from the FIG. 5 position as they move toward coupling position;

FIG. 7 is a plan view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating the maximum gathering range of two opposed approaching couplers when they are displaced with respect to one another in a lateral direction opposite to the lateral displacement shown in FIG. 4, and illustrating an end-to-end engagement of the hooks; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are plan views showing further gathering of the couplers from the FIG. 7 position as they move toward a coupling position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to :FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of-the drawings, there is shown arailway car coupler which is of the automatic hook type.

- Coupler -15 has a body 16 comprising a hollow narrow head 17 and an integral shank '18. A rearward portion of shank 18 is received within a yoke (not shown) and is pivotally secured thereto in the conventional manner to allow for horizontal and vertical angling of the coupler. The coupler has on the forward extremity of its head 17 a generally flat, vertically disposed, buffing face plate 19. Plate 19 is disposed at substantially right angles to the longitudinal central axis AA" of the coupler and contains a horizontally elongated opening or mouth 20 therein through which a coupling hook 25 projects.

I-look 25 is joumalled to head 17 by means of a vertical pin 26 for horizontal pivotal movement between coupling and-uncoupling positions. The hook comprises a body portion 27 and an enlarged hook-shaped head portion 28. A lug 30 extends laterally away from one side of the rear end of body portion 27 for abutting engagement with a complementary ledge 31 formed on rear wall 32 of the coupler head. A shoulder 33 extends laterally away from the opposite side of body portion 27 in forward spaced relation to lug 30. Shoulder 33 serves as a seat for one end of a spring 34 which is receivable within a pocket portion 35 in rear wall 32 of the coupler head. Spring 34 is disposed between shoulder 33 and pocket portion 35 under initial compression and urges the hook 25 in a counter clockwise direction about pin 26. As illustrated in FIG. 2, legs 31 functions as a stop means to limit movement of the hook in response to spring 34. Thus hook 25, in its normal position of rest, extends forwardly through opening 20 and is disposed in its locking or coupling position on one side of the longitudinal central axis of the coupler.

As shown in FIG. 2, hook-shaped head portion 28 extends forwardly beyond plate 19 and has a laterally extending portion 28a, the rear side of which has a flat rearwardly facing pulley face 36. Face 36 is substantially centered transversely of the longitudinal central axis of the coupler and substantially coplanar with the front face of plate 19. Head portion 28 has a forwardly extending tapered nose 37 bound at its sides by laterally outwardly and inwardly facing surfaces 38, 39, respectively. Surfaces 38, 39 are each contained in a separate vertical plane and diverge rearwardly from tip 40 of the nose. Surface 38 extends from tip 40 in a direction away from the longitudinal axis and is of alength less than surface 39. Surface 39 extends from tip 40 in a direction toward the central axis and merges with a vertically disposed side surface 41 located on the other side of the central axis on head portion 28a when the hook is in its locked position. Nose 37 is also bound in the vertical direction by rearwardly diverging upper and lower inclined surfaces 42, 43, respectively.

Plate 19 has on the hook side of the coupler a pair of similar forwardly extending oblong-shaped projections 45, 45a; each of which has its major axis contained in a horizontal plane. Projections 45, 45a are in vertical spaced relation to each other and are disposed above and below opening 20 in partial overlapping spaced relation with head portion 28 of hook 25. Correspondingly located on the other side of the longitudinal central axis of the coupler are a pair of elongated recessed pocket portions 46, 460 which extend rearwardly from the plate in horizontal coplanar relation with the correspondingly disposed projections. Projections 45, 45a and pocket portions 46, 46a are substantially equidistantly spaced from the longitudinal central axis of the coupler for mating with corresponding pocket portions and projections, respectively, of another similar coupler to interlock two opposed couplers against relative horizontal and vertical movement when the couplers are in a coupled position, as hereinafter explained.

Each projection 45, 45a has a front end portion 47 tapering forwardly to a tip 48. Each tapered end 47 is bound laterally by rearwardly diverging vertical surfaces 49 and 50 which are disposed in coplanar relation with respect to the corresponding surface on the other projection. Surface 49 is of a length greater than surface 38 on nose 37 and extends from each tip 48 in a direction away from the central axis and merges with a vertical side surface 51 on the outer side of projections 45, 45a. Surface 50 is of a length less than surface 49 and extends in a direction towards the longitudinal central axis in overlapping spaced relation with head portion 28 on hook 25. Surface 50 terminates rearwardly at its intersection with a vertical side surface 52 on the inner side of projections 45, 45a. Upper and lower rearwardly inclined surfaces 53, 54 bound each tapered end 47 vertically and merge respectively with upper and lower horizontal flat surfaces 55, 56 on each projection. Tips 48 of each projection are contained in a transversely extending vertical plane which is substantially parallel to plate 19 and which intersects surface 39 on nose 37 of the hook substantially at its midpoint as viewed in FIG. 2. That intersection is contained in a longitudinally extending vertical plane that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal central axis and passes approximately through the vertical axis of pin 26. In addition, tip 48 is disposed slightly rearwardly of the vertical plane containing surface 38 and in close lateral offset spaced relation to nose 37, which relationships are further defined hereinafter.

Each recessed pocket portion 46, 46a is bound by oppositely facing horizontally and vertically disposed surfaces 60, 61 and 62, 63, respectively, to define an oblong-shaped pocket having a cross-sectional area slightly larger than that of projections 45 45a. Surfaces 62 and 63 are each cut away at their juncture with front face plate 19 to define chamferred pocket portion surfaces 65, 66. Surfaces 65, 66 are provided to improve the horizontal gathering characteristics between the tapered ends 47 of one coupler and the opposing recessed pockets of the mating coupler during coupler alignment of two opposed approaching couplers, as mentioned hereinafter. Disposed on the pocket side of opening 20 in plate 19, in coplanar relation with chamferred surfaces 65 on pocket portions 46, 46a, there is an inwardly facing beveled flat vertical surface 68. Surface 68 is provided to further improve the horizontal gathering characteristics of two opposed couplers approaching each other during the coupling operation.

Referring to FIG. 4 there are shown two couplers approaching for coupling, the couplers being at the same elevation but displaced laterally the maximum amount from which position coupling can be effected. As shown the hooks are not in contact and are spaced apart to the extent that the forward edge of surface 38 of each hook is in contact with beveled surface 68 in opening 20 of the opposing coupler. The opposed couplers are adapted to horizontally align themselves in the following manner. During the first phase of the coupling operation, the forward extremity of such surface 38 on each hook 25 will engage the forward extremity of each opposed beveled surface 68 of the other coupler. Since lug on each hook precludes further pivotal movement of the hook about pivot pin 26 in the counterclockwise direction, each surface 38 will slideably cooperate with the opposed beveled surface 68 as each hook enters opening 20 of the other coupler to effect a preliminary lateral alignment of the axes AA and A- A' as the opposed couplers move toward each other.

As the couplers continue their movement toward each other as shown in FIG. 5, the couplers become further laterally aligned whereby surface 49 on each projection 45 slideably engages chamferred surface 65 on the opposed coupler as each surface 38 moves inwardly of the couplers and out of engagement with each surface 68 to effect continuous alignment of the axes. Thereafter, surfaces 49 slide along the opposed chamferred surfaces 65 to the position shown in FIG 6 to effect general common alignment of the axes of the couplers. As the couplers advance to the position shown in FIG. 6, side surfaces 41 of the hooks slideably engage to cause each hook to pivot slightly in the clockwise direction. During the final coupling movements of the couplers their axes are substantially in alignment and upper and lower projections 45, 45a enter the complementary recess pocket portions 46, 46a of the other coupler. During this final movement of the couplers toward each other, surfaces 51 of projections 45, 45a slideably cooperate with laterally inwardly facing surfaces 63 of the recessed pocket portions to provide a substantial straight-in closing movement of the couplers. This straight-in closing movement eliminates the possibility of injury to any trainline service connector that may be attached to front face plates 19 of the couplers. With the couplers in the final coupled aligned position (not shown), face plate 19 of one coupler is held in tight engagement with face plate 19 of the opposing coupler by the overlapping relationship established between the pulling faces 36 of the opposed interlocked coupling hooks.

In retrospect, during the continuous alignment of the axes of two opposed similar couplers, surfaces 49 of the projections 45 45a slideably engage surfaces 65 of pockets 46; 460 just as surfaces 38 slideably disengage surfaces 68. This continuous alignment is provided by having the diagonal spaced relationship between the rearward terminal portion of each surface 38 and the leading forward portion of each surface 49, which when viewed in plan, is of a diagonal length less than the width of plate surface 68.

Advancing to FIG. 7, there is illustrated the maximum horizontal misalignment between two opposed approaching couplers that are vertically aligned and laterally displaced in the opposite direction from each other and toward their respective recessed pocket portion side, from which position the couplers may be coupled. During the first phase of the coupling operation, nose surfaces 39 of the opposed coupling hooks 25 engage near their respective forward ends, this being the only engagement occurring between the couplers. Since the point of engagement on each tapered nose 37 is located on the side of each hook reacting under the influence of spring 34, each hook tends to rotate in the clockwise direction under the influence of the offsetting coupler force. As the couplers advance toward each other, surfaces 39 slideably cooperate with each other to effect preliminary lateral alignment of the axes AA and A'--A of the opposed couplers. As the couplers continue in their movement toward each other, surfaces 41 slideably engage to effect a continuous preliminary lateral alignment of the axes. As the couplers advance still further toward each other, as shown in FIG. 8, surface 50 on each of the projections 45, 45a slideably engage chamferred surfaces 66 on the opposed couplers to effect continuous alignment of the axes. Thereafter, surfaces 50 slideably cooperate with the opposed chamferred surfaces to the position shown in FIG. 9 to effect general common alignment of the axes AA and A'A of the opposed couplers. During the final closing movements of the couplers, surfaces 52 slideably cooperate with laterally outwardly facing surfaces 62 as each projection 45, 45a enters the complementary recessed pocket portion of the other coupler to effect a substantial straight-in closing movement. As the opposed faces 19 engage, pulling faces 36 of the opposed coupling hooks overlap each other to interlock the couplers in a coupled relationship to complete the coupling operation.

From the above, it is evident that the inboard projections and pocket portions of the invention provide a vertical and lateral interlock between coupled couplers and, in addition, increase the horizontal gathering ability of hook type couplers when compared to the horizontal gathering ability of hook type couplers having inboard tapered guide pins and sockets.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic hook-type car coupler comprising:

A. a head, said head having a generally flat front face plate extending transversely of the longitudinal central axis of the coupler and defining the forward extremity of the coupler head;

B. a coupling hook in said head mounted for horizontal pivotal movement, said hook in its locking position extending forwardly on one side of said axis through an opening in said plate;

C. interlocking means on said plate vertically disposed above and below said opening and comprising:

1. a pair of projections on said hook side of said head extending forwardly from said plate in partial overlapping spaced relation with said hook;

2. a pair of recessed pocket portions disposed on the other side of said head and extending rearwardly away from the face of said plate;

said projections and pocket portions being substantially equidistantly spaced from said axis for mating with pocket portions and projections, respectively, of another similar coupler to interlock two opposed couplers against relative horizontal and vertical movement when the couplers are in a coupled position;

D. first lateral alignment means comprising a tapered nose disposed on said hook at its forward extremity; E. second lateral alignment means comprising a tapered forward end disposed on each of said projections; and F. said tapered nose and tapered end each having a laterally outwardly facing'surface extending from its respective tip in a direction rearwardly and away from said axis, said surface on said nose being adapted to cooperate with a complementary surface on said plate adjacent to said opening on the pocket side of said head of a similar opposing coupler, said nose surface slidably cooperating with said complementary surface during the first phase of a coupling operation between two opposed approaching couplers to effect a preliminary lateral alignment of the axes of said couplers when both couplers are each laterally displaced in the opposite direction from each other and toward their respective hook side sufficiently to effect a nonhook-to-nonhook engagement of the approaching couplers; and said surface on each tapered end being adapted to slidably cooperate with a complementary surface on each pocket portion of said opposed coupler as said nose surface slidably disengages said plate surface to effect continuous alignment of the axes of said opposed couplers during said coupling operation and effect general common alignment thereof.

2. The car coupler of claim 1 wherein:

each of said projections which when viewed in elevation is oblong and has its major axis contained in a horizontal plane spaced from said longitudinal central axis.

3. The car coupler of claim 1 wherein:

said surfaces on said tapered ends are coplanar and each has a length greater than said nose surface.

4. The car coupler of claim 1 wherein:

said nose surface which when viewed in plan is spaced from each tapered end surface an amount less than the width of said plate surface.

5. The car coupler of claim 1 wherein:

said tapered nose and tapered end each have a laterally inwardly facing surface extending from is respective tip in a direction rearwardly and toward said axis, said inwardly facing surface on said nose being adapted to cooperate with a similar surface on the nose of a hook of a similar opposing coupler, said last-mentioned surface slidably cooperating with said similar surface during the first phase of a coupling operation between two opposed approaching couplers to effect a preliminary lateral alignment of the axes of said couplers when both couplers are each laterally displaced in the opposite direction from each other and toward their respective pocket portion side sufficientlyto effect an end-to-end engagement of the hooks of the approaching couplers; and said inwardly facing surface on said tapered end of each projection being adapted to slidably cooperate with another complementary surface on each pocket portion of said opposed coupler after said cooperating surfaces on said noses slidably disengage to effect continuous alignment of the axes of said opposed couplers during said coupling operation and effect general common alignment thereof.

6. The car coupler of claim 5 wherein:

said laterally inwardly facing surfaces on said tapered ends are coplanar and in partial overlapping spaced relation with said hook.

7. The car coupler of claim 5 wherein:

the mid-point of said laterally inwardly facing surface on said nose and said tip of each projection are contained in a vertical plane substantially parallel to said face plate.

8. The car coupler of claim 5 wherein:

said outwardly facing surfaces on said tapered ends are of greater length than said inwardly facing surfaces on said tapered ends.

9. The car coupler of claim 1 wherein:

A. said nose surface is contained in a vertical plane transverse to said longitudinal central axis; and

B. said tip of each projection which when viewed in plan terminates slightly rearward of said vertical plane and is in close spaced relation to said nose.

10. The car coupler of claim 1 wherein:

said plate surface and each of said pocket portion surfaces are contained in a vertical plane transverse to said longitudinal central axis.

11. An automatic hook type car coupler comprising:

A. a head,said head having a front face plate contained in a plane normal to the longitudinal central axis of the coupler;

B. a coupling hook in said head mounted for horizontal pivotal movement, said hook in its locking position extending forwardly on one side of said axis through an opening in said plate;

C. a projection on said hook side of said head extending forwardly from said plate and having its axis contained in a horizontal plane spaced from said central axis;

D. a recessed pocket portion disposed on the other side of said head in coplanar relation with said projection and extending rearwardly away from the face of said plate; said projection and pocket portion being adapted for mating with a pocket portion and projection, respectively, of another similar coupler;

E. said hook and projections each having a tapered portion on its respective forward extremity, each tapered portion having a laterally outwardly facing surface extending from its respective tip in a direction rearwardly and away from said central axis, said surface on said hook being adapted to cooperate with a vertically disposed sloping surface on said plate adjacent to said opening on the pocket side of said head of a mating coupler, said hook surface slideably cooperating with said plate surface during the first phase of a coupling operation between two opposed approaching couplers to effect a preliminary lateral alignment of the axes of said couplers when both couplers are each laterally displaced in the opposite direction from each other and toward their respective hook side; and said surface on said projection being adapted to slideably cooperate with a vertically disposed sloping surface on said pocket portion of said opposed coupler as said hook surface slideably disengages said plate surface to effect continuous alignment of the axes of said couplers during said coupling operation and effect general common alignment thereof.

12. The car coupler of claim 11 wherein:

said projection which when viewed in elevation is oblong and has its major axis contained in a horizontal plane spaced from said longitudinal central axis.

13. The car coupler of claim 11 wherein:

each of said tapered portions having a laterally inwardly facing surface extending from its respective tip in a direction rearwardly and toward said central axis; said inwardly facing surface on said hook being adapted to cooperate with a similar surface on a hook of a mating coupler during the first phase of a coupling operation between two opposed approaching couplers to efiect a preliminary lateral alignment of the axes of said couplers when both couplers are each laterally displaced in the opposite 14. The car coupler of claim 13 wherein:

said laterally inwardly facing surface on said projection is in partial overlapping spaced relation with said hook.

15. The car coupler of claim 13 wherein:

said outwardly facing surface on said projection is of greater length than said inwardly facing surface on said projection. 

1. An automatic hook-type car coupler comprising: A. a head, said head having a generally flat front face plate extending transversely of the longitudinal central axis of the coupler and defining the forward extremity of the coupler head; B. a coupling hook in said head mounted for horizontal pivotal movement, said hook in its locking position extending forwardly on one side of said axis through an opening in said plate; C. interlocking means on said plate vertically disposed above and below said opening and comprising:
 1. a pair of projections on said hook side of said head extending forwardly from said plate in partial overlapping spaced relation with said hook;
 2. a pair of recessed pocket portions disposed on the other side of said head and extending rearwardly away from the face of said plate; said projections and pocket portions being substantially equidistantly spaced from said axis for mating with pocket portions and projections, respectively, of another similar coupler to interlock two opposed couplers against relative horizontal and vertical movement when the couplers are in a coupled position; D. first lateral alignment means comprising a tapered nose disposed on said hook at its forward extremity; E. second lateral alignment means comprising a tapered forward end disposed on each of said projections; and F. said tapered nose and tapered end each having a laterally outwardly facing surface extending from its respective tip in a direction rearwardly and away from said axis, said surface on said nose being adapted to cooperate with a complementary surface on said plate adjacent to said opening on the pocket side of said head of a similar opposing coupler, said nose surface slidably cooperating with said complementary surface during the first phase of a coupling operation between two opposed approaching couplers to effect a preliminary lateral alignment of the axes of said couplers when both couplers are each laterally displaced in the opposite direction from each other and toward their respective hook side sufficiently to effect a nonhook-to-nonhook engagement of the approaching couplers; and said surface on each tapereD end being adapted to slidably cooperate with a complementary surface on each pocket portion of said opposed coupler as said nose surface slidably disengages said plate surface to effect continuous alignment of the axes of said opposed couplers during said coupling operation and effect general common alignment thereof.
 2. a pair of recessed pocket portions disposed on the other side of said head and extending rearwardly away from the face of said plate; said projections and pocket portions being substantially equidistantly spaced from said axis for mating with pocket portions and projections, respectively, of another similar coupler to interlock two opposed couplers against relative horizontal and vertical movement when the couplers are in a coupled position; D. first lateral alignment means comprising a tapered nose disposed on said hook at its forward extremity; E. second lateral alignment means comprising a tapered forward end disposed on each of said projections; and F. said tapered nose and tapered end each having a laterally outwardly facing surface extending from its respective tip in a direction rearwardly and away from said axis, said surface on said nose being adapted to cooperate with a complementary surface on said plate adjacent to said opening on the pocket side of said head of a similar opposing coupler, said nose surface slidably cooperating with said complementary surface during the first phase of a coupling operation between two opposed approaching couplers to effect a preliminary lateral alignment of the axes of said couplers when both couplers are each laterally displaced in the opposite direction from each other and toward their respective hook side sufficiently to effect a nonhook-to-nonhook engagement of the approaching couplers; and said surface on each tapereD end being adapted to slidably cooperate with a complementary surface on each pocket portion of said opposed coupler as said nose surface slidably disengages said plate surface to effect continuous alignment of the axes of said opposed couplers during said coupling operation and effect general common alignment thereof.
 2. The car coupler of claim 1 wherein: each of said projections which when viewed in elevation is oblong and has its major axis contained in a horizontal plane spaced from said longitudinal central axis.
 3. The car coupler of claim 1 wherein: said surfaces on said tapered ends are coplanar and each has a length greater than said nose surface.
 4. The car coupler of claim 1 wherein: said nose surface which when viewed in plan is spaced from each tapered end surface an amount less than the width of said plate surface.
 5. The car coupler of claim 1 wherein: said tapered nose and tapered end each have a laterally inwardly facing surface extending from is respective tip in a direction rearwardly and toward said axis, said inwardly facing surface on said nose being adapted to cooperate with a similar surface on the nose of a hook of a similar opposing coupler, said last-mentioned surface slidably cooperating with said similar surface during the first phase of a coupling operation between two opposed approaching couplers to effect a preliminary lateral alignment of the axes of said couplers when both couplers are each laterally displaced in the opposite direction from each other and toward their respective pocket portion side sufficiently to effect an end-to-end engagement of the hooks of the approaching couplers; and said inwardly facing surface on said tapered end of each projection being adapted to slidably cooperate with another complementary surface on each pocket portion of said opposed coupler after said cooperating surfaces on said noses slidably disengage to effect continuous alignment of the axes of said opposed couplers during said coupling operation and effect general common alignment thereof.
 6. The car coupler of claim 5 wherein: said laterally inwardly facing surfaces on said tapered ends are coplanar and in partial overlapping spaced relation with said hook.
 7. The car coupler of claim 5 wherein: the mid-point of said laterally inwardly facing surface on said nose and said tip of each projection are contained in a vertical plane substantially parallel to said face plate.
 8. The car coupler of claim 5 wherein: said outwardly facing surfaces on said tapered ends are of greater length than said inwardly facing surfaces on said tapered ends.
 9. The car coupler of claim 1 wherein: A. said nose surface is contained in a vertical plane transverse to said longitudinal central axis; and B. said tip of each projection which when viewed in plan terminates slightly rearward of said vertical plane and is in close spaced relation to said nose.
 10. The car coupler of claim 1 wherein: said plate surface and each of said pocket portion surfaces are contained in a vertical plane transverse to said longitudinal central axis.
 11. An automatic hook type car coupler comprising: A. a head, said head having a front face plate contained in a plane normal to the longitudinal central axis of the coupler; B. a coupling hook in said head mounted for horizontal pivotal movement, said hook in its locking position extending forwardly on one side of said axis through an opening in said plate; C. a projection on said hook side of said head extending forwardly from said plate and having its axis contained in a horizontal plane spaced from said central axis; D. a recessed pocket portion disposed on the other side of said head in coplanar relation with said projection and extending rearwardly away from the face of said plate; said projection and pocket portion being adapted for mating with a pocket portion and projection, respectively, of another similar coupler; E. said hook aNd projections each having a tapered portion on its respective forward extremity, each tapered portion having a laterally outwardly facing surface extending from its respective tip in a direction rearwardly and away from said central axis, said surface on said hook being adapted to cooperate with a vertically disposed sloping surface on said plate adjacent to said opening on the pocket side of said head of a mating coupler, said hook surface slideably cooperating with said plate surface during the first phase of a coupling operation between two opposed approaching couplers to effect a preliminary lateral alignment of the axes of said couplers when both couplers are each laterally displaced in the opposite direction from each other and toward their respective hook side; and said surface on said projection being adapted to slideably cooperate with a vertically disposed sloping surface on said pocket portion of said opposed coupler as said hook surface slideably disengages said plate surface to effect continuous alignment of the axes of said couplers during said coupling operation and effect general common alignment thereof.
 12. The car coupler of claim 11 wherein: said projection which when viewed in elevation is oblong and has its major axis contained in a horizontal plane spaced from said longitudinal central axis.
 13. The car coupler of claim 11 wherein: each of said tapered portions having a laterally inwardly facing surface extending from its respective tip in a direction rearwardly and toward said central axis, said inwardly facing surface on said hook being adapted to cooperate with a similar surface on a hook of a mating coupler during the first phase of a coupling operation between two opposed approaching couplers to effect a preliminary lateral alignment of the axes of said couplers when both couplers are each laterally displaced in the opposite direction from each other and toward their respective pocket portion side; and said inwardly facing surface on said projection being adapted to slideably cooperate with another vertically disposed sloping surface on said pocket portion of said opposed coupler after said cooperating surfaces on said hooks slideably disengage to effect continuous alignment of the axes of said couplers during said coupling operation and effect general common alignment thereof.
 14. The car coupler of claim 13 wherein: said laterally inwardly facing surface on said projection is in partial overlapping spaced relation with said hook.
 15. The car coupler of claim 13 wherein: said outwardly facing surface on said projection is of greater length than said inwardly facing surface on said projection. 